Cancer Survivorship: The Interface of Aging, Comorbidity, and Quality Care

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Abstract
Already including more than 10 million individuals, the number of cancer survivors in the United States will continue to increase into the foreseeable future ( 1 , 2 ) . This trend is being driven by early detection, improved treatments, and better supportive care, but also, importantly, by the aging of the U.S. population. The number (and percentage) of persons aged 65 years and older in the U.S. population is projected to increase from its current level of 35 million (12.4%) to 70 million (20%) persons by 2030 ( 3 ) . Given that the single most important risk factor for developing cancer is aging, these figures are sobering.